Metal hull construction



March *14, 1950 F. R. EICHNER METAL HULL CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 26, 1944 Zmventor March 1950 F. R. EICHNER METAL HULLCONSTRUCTION Filed July, 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nnentor Gttornegs jFlkfyer lull-""1"." IIIIIIIIII March 14, 1950 F. RIEICHNER 2,500,279

METAL HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26. 1944 s Sheets- Sheet s Ihwentor BI Ekj/Qr Gttornegs i 'aienteci Mar. 14, 193C? UNHTED STATES PATENTOFFICE METAL HULL CONSTRUCTION Ferdinand R. Eichner, Pontiac, Mich.,assignor to Trail-A-Boat 00., Pontiac, Mich.

Application July 26, 1944, Serial No. 546,671

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in marine craft, and moreparticularly to a hull structure for sailing craft.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sailing craft orhull for marine craft and the like such as sailing boats which iscomparatively light in weight and rugged in construction and which willbe economical to manufacture and build.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sailing craft or boathull which is constructed of sectional units riveted together anduniquely arranged to form a streamlined hull structure for a sailingcraft which will withstand rough weather conditions and usage as well asvarious handling conditions of the novice without being broken orotherwise damaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sailing craft hull whichis extremely durable and which is constructed of sectional units formedof a lightweight metal such as aluminum so as to reduce the cost ofmanufacture and enhance the appearance of the sailing craft withoutnecessitating the decoration thereof as by means of painting or coatingwith varnishes and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sailing craft which isconstructed of stamped, pressed or cast metal bow and stem membersconnected by extruded frame members for receiving the sheathing unitswhich are secured thereto by rivets or welding at the point of contactto insure a rigid construction and facilitate the mass production ofsailing craft and thereby place the same within the reach of the public.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sailing craft of theabove-mentioned character in which the fittings and various riggingdevices may be fastened in place by nuts and bolts, thereby obviatingthe use of screws or wood fastenings as has heretofore been the commonpractice.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course ofthe following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the sailing craft embodying the inventionshowing the streamlined contour thereof and the general arrangement ofthe various parts;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the sailing craft illustrating aportion thereof broken away to show one of the details of construction;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the bowstructure including one of the cast, stamped or pressed sectional hullmembers thereof;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the zig-zag line l4of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating thehull structure and various details of construction;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the manner inwhich the extruded frame members are connected to the sheathing orplanking;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 6-8 of Figure1 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the rudderstructure and tiller shaft;

Figure '7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 1-7 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the mannerin which the mast is supported between the deck and keel structure ofthe hull;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the cast metal stern membersshowing the manner in which the Same is chamfered for receiving thesheathing plates of the hull as well as the extruded frame membersthereof;

Figure 9 is a perspective View partly broken away of one of the extrudedframe members showing the general contour thereof and the manner inwhichthe same is recessed at the ends for receiving the sheathing plates;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an extruded frame member showing thegeneral construction thereof; and

Figure 11 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the keel showing themanner in which the weights are removably applied thereto and onopposite sides of the keel plate.

In the drawings, wherein fOr the purpose of illustrating the inventionlike reference characters will be employed to designate like partsthroughout, the reference character 5 will generally be employed torepresent a bow casting, stamping or pressing and the referencecharacter 6 will generally indicate the stern casting, pressing orstamping of the sailboat hull structure embodying the invention. The bowmember 5 is cast, stamped or pressed from aluminum or other light metalalloy and includes converging side walls 1 terminating in a rounded bowportion 8 so as to cut the water during the forward travel of thesailboat. The converging side walls I of the bow casting, pressing orstamping are connected at the top and bottom by walls 9 and l 0respectively and the intersecting portions thereof are well rounded asshown in Figures 1 and 2 to provide a streamlined prow surface. The sidewalls I and top and bottom walls 9 and ii! are cut away as at H to forma relatively thin flange portion 12 for receiving the ends of thesheathing plate as well as the ends of longitudinal frame members towhich the sheathing plates are connected.

Since thebowand stern are identical in construction except for the shapethereof, attention is directed to Figure 8 wherein the casting, pressingor stamping also includes converging side walls 13 connected by a topwall it and bottom wall IS. The side walls [3 are cut awayas at it toprovide relatively thin flanges l1 similar to the flanges l2 and in alike manner the top and bottom walls l4 and I5 are cut away to providerelatively thin flanges l8 and I9.

Rounded corners 2D connect the flanges ll, l8-

and IQ for accommodating the ends of the longitudinal frame memberswhich will be presently described. It is to be noted that the sideflanges H are further recessed or cut away as at 2! at the top andbottom thereof while the flanges l8 and is are cut away a greaterdistance than the side flanges 11-.

Extending between the bow and stern castings, pressings or stampings 5and B is a series of frame members and as shown more clearly in Figure4, corner frame members 22 are provided for the upper and lower portionof the hull and are formed of extruded metal such as aluminum oraluminum alloy. The extruded frame memhere 22 are arcuately curved incross section and are reduced along the edges as at 23 to formrelatively thin flange portions 24. The ends of the corner frame members22 are afiixed to the castings, pressings or stampings 5 and B and arepositioned so that the arcuately curved portions will be received on therounded corner flanges of the castings or pressings 5 and 6 with theflanged portions 24 disposed and received in the recesses l8 and 2i. Theends of the longitudinal frame members 22 are held in place by rivets orother fastening elements which are passed through openings 25 in therounded portion 20 connecting the flanges I1 and 18. A keel frame member26 as shown in Figure 10 extends longitudinally of the hull structureand is formed of extruded metal such as aluminum or aluminum alloy so asto form a central rib portion 21 having oppositely and obliquelyextending wing portions 28. A longitudinally extending rib 29 is formedon the under side of the keel frame member 28 to form recesses 30 onopposite sides thereof. The ends of the keel frame member 26 are taperedas at 3| to fit between the ends of the extruded corner frame members 22as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3. Extending between the keel framemember 26 and the lowermost corner frame member 22 is a series of shortI-bars 33 which have their ends fastened in place by being welded or thelike to the keel frame member 25 and lowermost corner frame members 22.

After the longitudinal frame members and bow and stern castings,pressings or stampings have thus been assembled, the sheathing platesare secured thereto and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a pair ofbottom hull sheathing plates 3d are secured between the keel framemember 26 and corner frame member 22 with the edges thereof received inthe respective recesses thereof as at as and 23. Rivets or the like asat 35 are provided for securing the bottom hull sheathing member 34 inplace. Similarly, arcuately curved side hull sheathing members 38 aresecured between the upper and lowermost longitudinal frame members 22with the longitudinal edges thereof received in the reduced portion 23as is clearly illustrated in Figure 4. Rivets or the like as at 31 areprovided for securely fastening the sheathing plates in position.

Adjacent the bow and stem of the hull there are provided bulkheads 38having marginal flanges 39 which are secured to the bottom sheathingplates 3% and side sheathing plates 36 by rivets or the like as at 40.The bulkheads 38 increase the rigidity of the hull and seal the bow andstern in the event of a leak caused by damage to the stern or hull;

The deck structure comprises short longitudinal frame bars 41 and 42which extend rearwardly from the bow casting 5 and forwardly from thestern casting 5. The inner ends of the short deck frame members 4! areconnected to a transverse angle bar 43 (Figure 7) as by means of beingwelded thereto and the ends of said bar 43 are connected to theuppermost corner frame members 22in a similar manner. As indicated inFigure 6, the forwardly extending deck frame bar 52 is connected to anangle bar 44 by being welded thereto and said angle bar 52 has its endsconnected to the uppermost corner frame bars 22 by welding or the like.The angle bars ll and 42 are slightly curved throughout their length toprovide a slight rise in the deck portion and add a slight curvature tothe deck.

The deck plates 45 are riveted to the uppermost corner frame members 22by rivets or the like as at 46 and to the longitudinal deck framemembers 4! and 42 by rivets ll and 43 respectively. The deck structureis left open for a portion of its length intermediate the ends thereofand said opening is rounded by a gunwale strip 19 riveted or otherwisesecured to the deck plate t5 and a trim strip 50 is secured to thegunwale strip t9 by means of screws orthe like as at 51. Inspectionopenings 52- may be provided in the deck plates 45 to permit inspectionof the chambers formed on the bulkhead 38 and said inspection openingsare covered with glass panes 53 held in place by rubber sealing stripsor other suitable means.

Secured to the underside of the hull and fastened to the central keelframe member 28 is a pair of oppositely disposed angle bars 5 3 securedin place by rivets or the'like and interposed beween the dependingflangesof said angle bars 55 is-a keelplate 55 having rearwardly slopingfront and rear edges 56 and 51. Keel weights 58 are adapted to besecured to the keel plate 35 by means of rivets 59 and said keel plateis provided with a series-of alternate openings (Soto facilitate thefastening of additional keel weights or for distributing the weight byplacing twoofthe keel weights on one side of the keel plate (Figure 5)rather than on opposite sides as shown in Figure 4. A mast BI is tubularin construction and has its lower end flattened and bifurcated as at 62for receiving the keel frame member 26 so asto be fastened thereto bymeans of a nut and bolt as at 53. The mast is further supported by meansof a tubular casting E l fastened to the transverse angle bar E8 bymeans of a nut and bolt as at 55. The casting 6 5 is providedwith anopening for the passage of the mast BI and is formed with cleats 55 foranchoring. the rigging ropes or lines. The sail structure and riggingis-of the usual construction and may comprise a main sail and jib sailas usual.

The rudder 61 is mounted on the lowermost i gra ers 52 end of a tillershaftBB which'is journalled in suitable bearing bushings 69 and 90riveted or other- Wise afiixed to the bottom and top hull sheathingmembers 3 2 and d5 as at ii, The longitudinal keel member 25 isinterruptedto permit the proper positioning ofthe bearing bushing (illand similarly, the longitudinal deck frame member $2 is interrupted forreceiving the bearing bushing til and permitting the passage of thetiller shaft 68. A tiller I3 is secured to the upper end ofthe tillershaft 88 by means of a return bent strap 14 held in place by rivets orother fastening elements H5.

The upper portion of the bow casting or pressing 5 is shaped as at Tiand is provided with an aperture l8 for receiving a cable rope tofacilitate the tying up of the sailing craft to a dock or float when notin use.

It is to be understood that the longitudinal frame members as well asthe sheathing plates 34%, 35 and% are formed'of aluminum or aluminumalloy or other lightweight metal to materially decrease the weight ofthe sailing craft and provide a finish which does not require theconstant painting or coating with'varnishes or hull paint.

Additional frame members 86 may be affixed to the bottom hull plates 35by rivets or the like for the purpose of supporting flooring platesformed of wood or other material which simpl rest upon the longitudinalframe members Bil and may be removed to permit cleaning. 1

In constructing the extruded frame members 22 and 25 from aluminum orother lightweight metal alloy, the exact shape is produced and aftersaid strips have been extruded they may be pro vided with suitableapertures 82 and 83 respectively for receiving the rivets 35 and 3?. Theends of the bottom hull sheathing plates 3 and the side hull sheathingplates 36 and deck sheathing plates i5 are secured to the bow and sterncastings, stampings or pressings 5 and 6 by rivets which are passedthrough openings 83 in the reduced flanges il, l8 and I9 thereof.

If desired, the bulkheads 38 may be held in place by being welded ratherthan riveted as shown in Figure 3, and various other parts may be weldedin lieu of riveting such as the hull and deck sheathing to thelongitudinal frame members.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and thatvarious changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of partswithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

What I claim is:

l. A sailing craft, comprising hollow shell-like bow and stern castingsshaped to conform to the streamlines of the sailing craft, said castingsbeing provided with flanged portions at one and thereof having roundedcorners and recesses adjacent said rounded corners forming seatingcavities, longitudinal frame members having their ends received andaffixed in said seating cavities, and sheathing hull plates secured tosaid frame members with their ends connected to the flanges of said bowand stern castings, said longitudinal frame members being provided withrounded surfaces to blend with the rounded corner portions of said bowand stern castings and being longitudinally flanged at the oppositesides thereof for receiving the sheathing plates in overlapping relationtherewith.

2. A marine craft, comprising hollow shell-like bow and stern castingsshaped to conform to the streamlines of the-marinecraft; said castingsbeing provided with flanged portions at one end thereof having roundedcorners and'recesses adjacent said rounded corners forming seatingcavities, longitudinal frame members having offset flanges at theopposite edges thereofand their ends received and affixed in saidseating cavities, sheathing hull plates secured to said frame memberswith their ends connected to the flanges of said bow and stern castingsand their longitudinal edges arranged in overlapping relationship withthe offset flanges of the frame-members for being secured thereto, atubular fitting supported by the hull structure, and a mast extendingthrough said tubular fitting and secured at its lower end to one of thelongitudinal frame members.

3. A marine craft, comprising stern and bow members having convergingside wall portions connected to top and bottom wall portions by roundedcorner portions and shaped to conform to the streamlined contour ofthe"sailing craft, said side, top and bottom wall portions of the stern andbow members being provided with flanges at the edges thereof and beingrecessed adjacent said rounded corner portions to form seating surfaces,longitudinally extending frame members having their ends connected toand received on the seating surfaces of said bow and stern members sothat the outer surfaces thereof will be continuous, sheathing hullplates affixed to said frame members withtheir edges in overlappingrelation therewith and their ends received on and secured to saidflanges, and a keel frame member extending centrally of the hullstructure and fastened to the sheathing members.

4. A marine craft, comprising stern and bow members having convergingside wall portions connected to top and bottom wall portions by roundedcorner portions and shaped. to conform to the streamlined contour of thesailing craft, said side, top and bottom wall portions of the stern andbow members being provided with flangesat the edges thereof and beingrecessed adjacent said rounded corner portions to form seating.surfaces, longitudinally extending frame members having their endsconnected to andreceived on the seating surfaces of said bow and sternmembers so that the outer surfaces thereof will be continuous, sheathinghull platesaffixed to said frame members with their edges in overlappingrelation therewith and their ends received on and secured to saidflanges, and a keel frame member extending centrally of the hullstructure and fastened to the sheathing members, said keel frame memberbeing provided with the oppositely extending wing portions arranged inoverlapping relation with the meeting edges of the bottom hull sheathingplates.

5. A sailing craft, comprising stern and bow members having roundedcorner surfaces at the top and bottom thereof, said bow and stem membersbeing provided with a reduced edge portion forming a seating surface,longitudinally extending frame members having their ends received insaid seating surfaces and shaped in cross section to conform to therounded contour of the corners of said bow and stern members spacedapart bulkheads connecting said frame members, and sheathing plates forthe bottom, sides and top of said sailing craft having theirlongitudinal edges secured to the longitudinal frame members inoverlapping relation with their end edges afiixed to said reduced edgeportions of the bow and stem members, the top sheathing plate beingprovided with a cock-pit opening.

6. A sailing craft, comprising stern and bow members having roundedcorner surfaces at the top and bottom thereof, said bow and sternmembers being provided with a reduced edge portion forming a seatingsurface, longitudinally extending frame members having their endsreceived in said seating surfaces and shaped in cross section to conformto the rounded contour of the corners of said bow and stern members,spaced apart bulkheads connecting said frame members, and sheathingplates for the bottom, sides and top of said sailing craft having theirlongitudinal edges secured to the longitudinal frame members inoverlapping relation with their end edges affixed to said reduced edgeportions of the bow and stern members, the top sheathing plate beingprovided with a cock-pit opening and said stern, bow, frame andsheathing members being formed of relatively light weight metal alloy.

7. A sailing craft, comprising stern and bow members having roundedcorner surfaces at the top and bottom thereof, said bow and sternmembers being provided with a reduced edge portion forming a seatingsurface, longitudinally extending frame members having their endsreceived in said seating surfaces and shaped in cross section to conformto the rounded contour of the corners of said bow and stem members,spaced apart bulkheads connecting said frame members, and sheathingplates for the bottom, sides and top of said sailing craft having theirlongitudinal edges secured to the longitudinal frame members inoverlapping relation with their end edges affixed to said reduced edgeportions of the bow and stern members, the top sheathing plate beingprovided with a cock-pit opening and said stern and bow members beingcast from aluminum in complete units.

8. A sailing craft, comprising stern and bow members having roundedcorner surfaces at the top and bottom thereof, said bow and stem membersbeing provided with a reduced edge portion forming a seating surface,longitudinally eX- tending frame members having their ends received insaid seating surfaces and shaped in cross section to conform to therounded contour of the corners of said bow and stem members, spacedapart bulkheads connecting said frame members, and sheathing plates forthe bottom, sides and top of said sailing craft having theirlongitudinal edges secured to the longitudinal frame members inoverlapping relation with their end edges affixed to said reduced edgepor tions of the bow and stern members, the top sheathing plate beingprovided with a cock-pit opening and said longitudinal frame membersbeing extruded from aluminum to the desired shape so as to conform withthe outer surface contour of said bow and stem members.

9. A marine craft comprising a bow and a stern each of unitary hollowstructure having an offset flange with spaced depressions, a keel ofcruciform cross section having its ends fitted and secured incorresponding depressions in the bow and stern flanges, like chines andsheers each having an arcuate cross section with offset flanges, saidchines and sheers having their respective ends fitted and secured incorresponding depressions in the flanges of the bow and stem, platessecured on the keel and one of the offset flanges of each chine, platessecured to the other flange of each chine and to one flange of eachsheer, and deck plates secured to the other flange of each sheer.

10. A marine craft, comprising bow and stem members of unitary hollowstructure shaped to conform to the streamlines of the craft, saidmembers having flanges with rounded corners and spaced recesses,longitudinal frame members having offset flanges at the edges thereoftheir ends received by and secured in said recesses, and sheathingplates secured to the flanges on the frame members with their endssecured to the flanges of said bow and stern members.

FERDINAND R. EICI-INER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

